News Broadcasting
Time Warner evinces renewed interest in MGM
MUMBAI: After Sony made public its interest in taking over MGM, another media major has thrown its hat into the ring.
Time Warner, which had been mulling the possibility of joining forces with MGM in December 2003, is considering whether it would be prudent to renew discussions with the studio controlled by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian.
A report in the Wall Street Journal indicates that Time Warner executives are holding internal meetings to discuss the feasibility of putting forth an alternative bid. As was the case with Sony, Time Warner could use MGM to build its film library.
In India, that presents interesting scenarios. Firstly, Zee currently has a 50:50 JV with MGM. The question here is whether the merger would be disbanded should either Sony or Time Warner succeed. Secondly, it would be in HBO India’s interest if the deal with Time Warner was to go through, as Time Warner is one of HBO’s partners.
A report in Variety last year had indicated that Time Warner had been courting MGM since as early as 2002. At that time, Kerkorian was asking for around $ seven billion which Time Warner was finding difficult to meet on account of heavy debt, not least on account of AOL.
Another report in Reuters states that Time Warner’s current bid was being made in conjunction with private equity firm Thomas H Lee. Sony earlier had put the offer at around $ five billion. The report adds that while Time Warner already owns some MGM films, these date back to before 1948. The pre 1948 library had been bought by billionaire Ted Turner way back in 1986. A new deal would bring the James Bond and Pink Panther franchises under its belt.
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
